With Watford preparing to host Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday (April 6, KO 3pm), we’ve taken a look at five players who have turned out for both the Hornets and the Lilywhites.
Wayne Brown
Wayne Brown was signed for Watford by Gianluca Vialli in 2002 and made his debut in a 1-1 draw away at Preston on January 31.
He went on to make 34 appearances for the Hornets, scoring four times. Two of his goals came in the same game against Coventry from open play – a rare feat for a central defender.
Brown would later join Preston on loan from Hull City in 2008, before joining the Lilywhites permanently in 2010.
Nathan Ellington
Striker Nathan Ellington arrived at Watford from West Bromwich Albion for a then club-record fee in 2007, but he would only go on to score five times in 56 appearances for the Hornets.
He was loaned out three times, to Derby County, Skoda Xanthi in Greece and finally Preston.
Ellington scored twice in 18 Championship appearances for the Lilywhites and departed Watford permanently for Ipswich Town on his return.
Joe Garner
Signed from Nottingham Forest by Sean Dyche in 2011, forward Joe Garner would ultimately score only one goal for Watford - a close-range finish in a 2-0 victory over Millwall.
He left the club for boyhood side Preston in 2013 after racking up 27 appearances and went on to excel for the Lancashire club.
Garner played 151 times in just over four seasons at Deepdale, finding the net on 57 occasions before a move to Scottish giants Rangers.
Josh King
Manchester United youth striker Josh King was sent on loan to Preston in 2010, with Sir Alex Ferguson shipping off the Norwegian to the team managed by his son Darren.
He had the distinction of becoming the 1,000th player for the Deepdale club and scored once in the League Cup during a short stay.
King joined Watford on a free transfer in 2021 after leaving Everton, with his most notable moment a hat-trick against the Toffees before his release at the end of the season.
Allan Smart
Scottish striker Allan Smart enjoyed his first taste of English football with Preston, making 25 appearances and scoring seven times across two seasons from 1994/95.
He joined Watford in 1998 after a spell at Carlisle, and scored the all-important second goal in the 2-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers in the First Division play-off final the following year, securing promotion to the Premier League.
Smart would end his Hornets career in 2001, having scored 13 times in 64 appearances in all competitions.
